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Every summer it seems that I get obsessed with a certain dress, that one dress that is so comfortable to wear and makes me feel great, and for the crazy summer of 2020, which has resulted in mainly garden time and less holidaying, I’ve only had time for one style of dress – ones with puff sleeves, and to be honest, the bigger the better.
There is something about the billowing statement that really makes a summer dress perfect. There is also a case of wanting comfort, because let’s be honest, who is actually seeing me in my outfits at the moment, well except my husband, as well as the fact I want to feel a sense of getting dressed. I know conflicting logic, but that’s where the puff sleeve comes in – it makes a dressy statement while also being super comfortable.
Even Princess Beatrice got the memo on puff sleeves and added them to her wonderful vintage wedding dress.
I bought this H&M dress pretty early into the summer, I just knew that I would love wearing it. Don’t get me wrong, this is a big dress, I would suggest sizing down, this is a medium and without the belt it swamps me, which I have to be honest I also quite like about it. Yes, I love it belted, makes a nicer silhouette, but when I’m pottering around the garden, reading my book in the sunshine this dress is so comfortable, all loose and billowing.
For the price, under £20 this really is a bargain dress. But when I see a price tag that low, alongside the words ‘Conscious’ as it is part of H&M’s sustainable collection I have to question how that’s possible. I get that it is made from a 100% organic cotton, but that alone doesn’t make a garment sustainable or eco-friendly. But I do appreciate that H&M is making an effort on transparency, for this product on its website you can find out that it was made in China, right down to the factory that made the dress. However, I do question why this product background is so hidden – why don’t they make it easier to find? But as consumers, we have to search for that information to make a decision on whether you want to buy into a certain brand.
For me, on this dress, I knew it was a style that I would wear over and over, year after year, I have a similar H&M dress without the puff sleeves from 5 years ago that I still wear and I know it will be the same with this one. I think sometimes people talk about fast-fashion as being only bad, but you can also make the choice to buy something that you will keep, wear, revamp, even recycle or upcycle. Sometimes, it isn’t just fast-fashion that should be criticised, it is also consumer choices, we all need to decide to buy more responsibly.
If you are just going to buy this dress for one Instagram shot then it really isn’t a good enough reason to buy. Yes, puff sleeves are a current trend, but it also a style that I love, and even when trends move on I will still wear puff sleeves, as I adore the whimsy it brings to a look, especially on a dress. This dress without the puff sleeves, or even the bold pink hue, would have been a sack dress – add the two together and it has become my dress of the summer.
30 Puff Sleeve Dresses To Make A Summer Statement
Whether you want a midi or mini, a relaxed silhouette, a dramatic puff sleeve or a little more of a subtle billowing, I have 30 puff sleeve dresses that will finish your summer with a bang.
Under £150 (scroll across to see them all)
If I had to buy just one more puff sleeve dress of this under £150 list, other than my H&M, New Look and Nobody’s Child beauties it would have to be the & Other Stories loose fitted gingham voluminous midi dress with a high V-neck and exaggerated dropped shoulder puff sleeves. This dress is perfect for a cooler summer night with its longer sleeves and will look amazing come autumn and winter paired with biker boots and tights.
Over £150 (scroll across to see them all)
This is the dream list of puff sleeve dresses, it is hard to pick just one I want, but I think I’ve narrowed down my favourites to two – the timeless and sustainable organic cotton ivory midi dress from Maggie Marilyn, I adore the semi-sweetheart neckline and ruching at the front. Then for a splash of my favourite colour, pink, I can’t get this Ganni cotton-blend ripstop midi dress out of my mind – just look how cute the utilitarian pockets are.
Which summer dress will you be buying?
